Mutua Madrid Open, Madrid, Spain, ATP Masters 1000, 2019

[herios]

What a confidence deflater; to take Nole out a couple times, but can't best someone on the way out of the game! How does that happen?

One explanation, RBA is more a HC player, clay is not his best surface

 

[Front242]

Gasquet has just returned after inguinal hernia repair surgery so if Roger serves well and plays good attacking tennis, he should exploit any movement issues Gasquet is having. Will be difficult to slide on clay after that surgery.

 

[Fiero425]

One explanation, RBA is more a HC player, clay is not his best surface

Another HC'r in Johnson going out to Millman! Wow, he'd be great back in the 70's! Steve just doesn't have a weapon and playing solid, basic aggressive tennis ain't gonna cut it at this level! Millman at least has "some heart" and has shown he can rise to the occasion! :whistle:

 

[atttomole]

The great one is back in action. I am not enthusiastic about him playing on clay. He thinks he still has the stamina to play on clay.

 

[atttomole]

The great Ronaldo is in the crowd, watching Federer.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed up! 3-1

 

[El Dude]

I just tuned in to see Fed go up 5-2 and boy was that a dominant game. Looks good so far.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed clinches the first set with another break!

 

[Murat B.]

Not too bad so far , after a 3 year break . There are guys that will exploit the movement to the forehand side though. Roger has to attack and attack. No use playing clay court tennis.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Not too bad so far , after a 3 year break . There are guys that will exploit the movement to the forehand side though. Roger has to attack and attack. No use playing clay court tennis.

Yep, movement to FH side seems to be quite weak. Also, Roger has switched on the UFE machine in the second set.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed wins 6-2, 6-3, but won't get pas Thiem. However has chances against a headless Fog.

 

[Murat B.]

Well, here is the only stat that should matter to Roger on this surface: Gasquet won the match if we only count the rallies over 5 shots. Keep it short and simple baby ! Let the young ones grind it out.

 

[herios]

More upsets, Pouille takes out Coric, Dellien beats Simon and Hurkacz gets by De Minaur, who comes back from injury.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Yep, Fed lost on moderately long 5-9 shot ralies and long, over 9 shot rallies. However, Fed was able to win the match today as he made sure that most of the points played don't go beyond 5 shots. He won't be able to do that against Ralph, Nole, Thiem etc.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed ha 28 winners to 20 UFE, for a diff of +8, RG had -2 diff.

Most interesting stat of this match is that Fed had 100% BP conversion rate (thee out of three) bucking his terrible performance in this area.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed gets a day off (before starting a potential four consecutive days in dirt) and then will play the winner of Fucs vs. La Monf. It will be a tough match independent of who wins. But, I still expect Fed to come through that (and then lose to Thiem in QF, if seeds prevail).

 

[herios]

Domi loses the opening set to Opelka

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Thiem wins the second 6-3.

Unless it goes to TB, Opelka has no chance in 3rd.

 

[MartyB]

Fed gets a day off (before starting a potential four consecutive days in dirt) and then will play the winner of Fucs vs. La Monf. It will be a tough match independent of who wins. But, I still expect Fed to come through that (and then lose to Thiem in QF, if seeds prevail).

Not so sure Fed on this clay surface could not take out Thiem...if they reach it.

 

[herios]

They mentioned today that Nadal has been fighting a stomach flu in the last few days.